Gnanasara Thero sentenced to 6 years in prison

The Appeal Court today sentenced Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to 6 years in prison after he was found guilty of four charges including contempt of court.

According to the verdict delivered by Judge of Appeal Court Preethi Padman Surasena and another judge, Gnanasara Thero has been found guilty of all four charges against him, and has been sentenced to 4 years for charge no. 1 and 2, 6 years for charge no. 3, and 5 years for charge no. 4, to be completed within six years.

Presidents Counsel Manohara Silva, the defense lawyer, requested the Court not to implement the sentence since he expects to appeal against the verdict.

Judge of Appeal Court Preethi Padman Surasena turned down the request, and ordered the Department of Prisons to perform the necessary tasks.

Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was sentenced while he was out on bail for threatening Sandaya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.